Vertically adjustable armrests for wheelchairs



y 7, 1968 F. F. sum 3,382,000

VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE ARMRESTS FOR WHEELCHAIRS Filed Dec. 16. 1966United States Patent ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A collapsible wheelchairincluding a pair of side frames between which a seat is suspendedwherein each side frame has an armrest carried by the upper portionthereof and adjustable vertically with respect thereto, the armresthaving a pair of vertical armrest posts which slide through the tubescomprising portions of the side frame.

Disclosure This invention relates to a wheelchair having verticallyadjustable armrests. Present day wheelchairs are of tubular frameconstruction, the upper horizontal tube of which generally comprises asupport to which an armrest pad is secured. In some forms the upperhorizontal support is offset laterally outwardly from and detachablysecured to the side frame proper. In the present invention the armrestpad is carried by vertical tubular supporting means which is verticallyslidable through the offset and detachable upper horizontal tubularportion of the side frame of the wheelchair, and means is provided forreleasably locking the armrest in various vertically adjusted positionsrelative to the side frame of the wheelchair. However the invention canbe used with a nondetachable upper horizontal side frame member.Preferably, two vertical armrest supports are utilized in spacedrelation longitudinally of the side frame of the wheelchair to maintainthe armrest in alignment with the side frame. The releasable catch meansfor maintaining the armrest in various vertically adjusted positions islocated in the upper horizontal tubular frame portion between thearmrest support for compactness of arrangement and to prevent it frombeing accidentally caught and actuated by the clothing of the occupantof the chair. The armrest, adjustable armrest support and catch meansare located within a common generally vertical plane, enabling myinvention to be incorporated in the collapsible type wheelchair widelyin use, without interfering with such collapsibility.

The objects of the invention are set forth above. Other t objects andadvantages will more fully appear from the following description inconnection with the accompanying drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a collapsible wheelchair embodyingmy invention, the adjustable armrest being shown in full and brokenlines in three positions of adjustment;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary detail taken approximately on the line22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a section taken approximately on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail taken approximately on the line 4-4 of FIG.1.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary detail taken approximately on the line 5-5 ofFIG. 1.

In the drawing there is shown a wheelchair 6 having a side frame 8comprising a lower horizontal tubular member 10 and an upper horizontaltubular member 12. The tubular member 12 has downwardly directed endportions 12A with reduced lower extremities 12B rearwardly received insocket sleeves 12C, the socket sleeves being welded to a forward uprighttubular frame member 14 and a rear upright frame member 16. Combinedbraces and seat bars 13 extend horizontally between the uprights 14 and16. The rear upright tubular member 16 extends above the upperhorizontal tubular member 12 to provide back-supporting means and a pushbutton handle 18. There is a similar side frame on each side of thechair and the two side frames are connected by cross-braces 20 pivotedat 22 in accordance with the construction shown in Patent No. 2,618,319granted Nov. 18, 1952, to Herbert A. Everest and Harry C. Jennings.

As is customary, the wheelchair is supported by large propulsion wheels24 and smaller caster wheels 26'. Also, each side frame may be providedwith a footrest support 28 carrying a suitable footrest unit 30, as iswell known in the art.

The detachable upper horizontal tubular portion 12 of the side frame hasa pair of vertically disposed spaced sleeves 32 and 34 extendingtherethrough and secured to the tubular member 12 as by welding.Vertically slidable in the sleeves 32 are vertically disposed tubulararmrest supports 36 and 38. The upper ends of these armrest supports areconnected by a horizontal cross-member 40 which may be welded theretoand said cross-member 40 has an armrest pad 42 suitably secured theretoas by screws or bolts 44 extending upwardly through said crossmember 40.

The detachable upper horizontal tubular side frame member 12 has atubular portion 46 which lies between the two vertically disposedsleeves 32 and 34. Slidably disposed within the tubular section 46 is acatch bolt 48 having a catch pin 50 which extends through an aperture 52in the sleeve 32 and into one of a series of apertures 54 in thevertical tubular armrest support 36. A catch bolt operator 56 has aninner end 58 threaded into the catch bolt 48 and a portion extendingthrough a longitudinal slot 60 in the tubular section 46. The outwardlyextending portion of the bolt operator 56 is vertically disposed and isaligned with the sleeves 32 and 34 and the tubular armrest supports 36and 38. A compression spring 62 is disposed between the catch bolt 48and the vertical sleeve 34 to yieldably urge the catch bolt and thecatch pin 50 to the right, as viewed in FIG. 3.

It should be noted that the sleeves 32 and 34, the vertical tubulararmrest supports 36 and 38, the armrests 42 and the catch bolt operator56 are all generally in the same vertical plane. This provides not onlya compact and neat construction, but is highly advantageous in thewidely used collapsible wheelchairs because there is nothing appreciablywider than the side frame itself to prevent collapsing of the wheelchairso that it will take up a desired minimum of space when so collapsed.The catch bolt operator 56 is located between the vertical tubulararmrest supports 36 and in alignment therewith in the same plane so thatthe catch bolt actuator, while readily accessible, is to a considerableextent shielded so it will not catch upon the clothing of the occupantof the chair. This is not only a matter of comfort or convenience, but asafety measure, since it is protected from accidental dislodgement andrelease of the arm chair support with a possible sudden and unexpectedlowering of the support which might occur if the catch operator were notso protected. This could be a matter of considerable concern, dependingupon the physical condition of the occupant.

It should be understood that various changes can be made in the form,details, arrangement and proportions of the various parts, withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a wheelchair, a pair of side frames of tubular material generallydefining the thickness of the side frames, pivoted cross-brace meansconnecting the side frames for collapsing movement toward each other, aseat supported between the side frames at a fixed height, each sideframe having an upper horizontal tubular arm portion externally parallelto and closely approximately the vertical plane of the remaining portionof the side frame, an arm rest disposed above said tubular arm portionin longitudinal alignment therewith and in said vertical plane, a pairof spaced parallel vertical armrest posts secured at their upper ends tosaid armrest and vertically slidable through said tubular arm portion toadjust their vertical heights relative to the side frames and the seat,and catch means movably carried by said tubular arm portion andselectively movable into releasable locking engagement with at least oneof said armrest posts at different vertical heights of said posts.

2. The structure in claim 1, and said tubular arm portion including atubular section between said arm rest posts, and said catch means beinglocated in and guided for movement by said tubular section.

3. The structure in claim 1, and said catch means being slidably movablewithin said tubular arm portion between said vertical arm rest posts,and an operator for said catch means extending exteriorly of saidtubular arm portion and lying within the defined thickness of thetubular arm portion.

4. The structure in claim 1, and said tubular arm portion having shor-tspaced sleeve sections extending vertically therethrough, and saidarmrest posts being vertically slidable and guided in said short spacedsleeve sections.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 885,339 4/1908 Hargrove 135--502,486,015 10/ 1949 Everest et a1 297-45 2,630,128 3/1953 Slater 135-502,679,283 5/ 1954- Mahone 297422 X 3,002,200 10/ 1961 Murcott 5--331CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner.

